The Armenian Genocide initiated in the Ottoman Empire during the World War I in the beginning of the previous century is one of the biggest crimes against humanity. Advancing the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide the new project introduced by "Armenpress" news agency is dedicated to the story of the eyewitnesses and survivors of the calamity to prove the world one more time that our demand for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is fair and justified. This time the project is dedicated to the story of the oldest resident of Avshar village 99-year old Makruhi Gevorgyan.

AVSHAR, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. One can encounter with “Saint Narek” alter in the yard of one of the houses in the central streets of the Avshar village in Ararat Province. The altar has 60 years old history. Makruhi Gevorgyan, who was born in 1915 in Van, built “Saint Narek” by her own hands. The unique relies, icons, and cross-stones brought from Van are placed in the tiny sanctuary. Other samples symbolizing the faith have also been brought here. We talked to Makruhi’s granddaughter Marine Hakobyan, who stated: “My grandmother is from Van. Her mother was pregnant and died on the migration road. Her father was a very rich man, who had to pay a gold coin to an Arab woman every day to breastfeed my grandmother on the ship”.

Makruhi reached to Armenia and settled in the Avshar village along with her elder sister Zaro and with her father Baghdo.  She had about ten uncles, whom, unfortunately, she never met again after the migration.

The fact of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman government has been documented, recognized, and affirmed in the form of media and eyewitness reports, laws, resolutions, and statements by many states and international organizations. The complete catalogue of all documents categorizing the 1915 wholesale massacre of the Armenian population in Ottoman Empire as a premeditated and thoroughly executed act of genocide, is extensive. Uruguay was the first country to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide in 1965. The massacres of the Armenian people were officially condemned and recognized as genocide in accordance with the international law by France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Greece, Slovakia, Cyprus, Lebanon, Uruguay, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile, Canada, Vatican and Australia.

Article by Tatevik Grigoryan

Photos by Arevik Grigoryan